Regular readers know I’ve had some harsh things to say over the years about David Grossman and his “Sheep, Wolves and Sheepdogs” metaphor. People won’t listen to me – go figure – and the ‘sheepdog’ thing keeps popping up as if it’s a good thing. But I read another take on it today over at Gun Nuts Media. It’s pretty good reading.
George Zimmerman’s life is ruined because he thought he was a sheepdog
That does sound rad, and it’s easy to see how people would get attached to that, because it does important things for the average CCW holder’s mind. Primarily, it feeds the ego. It makes you feel special, different. It sets you apart because you’re different in a good way. That kind of thinking is absolutely addictive, it’s like crack. Once you get a taste you can’t get enough. And the best part of it? No effort is required. You don’t have to join the military, be a cop, take any sort of training, you can just show up with your CCW and say “I’m a sheepdog” and think that makes you special.
It doesn’t. And in fact, that sort of mindset gets people killed.
Normally when I try to puncture the sheepdog metaphor, I’m going after the ones in uniform. Caleb is mostly talking about self-deluded armed ‘civilians’ who think Batman had the right idea. It’s a common enough fantasy when you’re young, I had it, and I honestly don’t know how many people fail to grow out of it. But he makes some pretty good points.
Sheep, wolf, sheepdog? I have heard those labels used quite a bit and respond with the fact that all three work for the shepherd. The sheep get fleeced and for the benefit of the shepherd. The shepherd eats more sheep than the Wolf. The wolf provides the fear that keeps the sheep in line. There are sheepdogs that protect and help sheep feel safe, built like the olde English type. There are other sheepdogs that look and move like wolves and the addled sheep react to them by moving where the dogs want them to go. They all exist for the benefit of the shepherd who uses them at will.
All metaphors are limited–the first version I saw wasn’t that a sheepdog was going to save the world, it was that despite teeth a sheepdog isn’t a predator. A bigger problem with this one is the size of the flock–If I’m a sheepdog, my flock is damn small. There are only a very few people I’ll stand and fight for, most of the time I carry to make it easier to get way.
Funny that, I thought Zimmermans life was ruined because the press picked up poor ickle Trayvons death as a cause to tout in their every whitey is racist campaign.
Zimmerman may not be the nicest or brightest but trayvons actions led to his own death. He could have walked home, called 911 on his phone instead of teling his girlfriend how he was going to jump the creepy cracker following him, screamed for help, knocked on the door nearst to him. He choose none of thise options. Instead he hid and jumped Zimmerman and beat him to the ground. Even obnoxious dimwits have the right to self defence and following someone is not a crime.
Here is what i wrote on this metaphor.
https://genericviews.wordpress.com/2014/10/29/wolves-and-sheepdogs/
The lesson the shepherds want you to take is you are ALL sheep, stop acting like dogs.
Sometimes analogies are used to demonstrate a point. Other times they are used to obfuscate, or to bend reality (“self-serving”). The sheepdog analogy certainly looks like the latter kind.
One point of disagreement with that article was that Zimmerman was entirely responsible for what happened to him, which looks a bit like blaming the victim. There is some responsibility, sure. Reasonably observant people can figure out what results will come from certain actions. Zimmerman might have been remiss in this respect.
Another was this statement:
“It creates a mental divide between citizens, where these self-appointed sheepdogs look down on people who choose not to carry.”
Now this divide may exist, I don’t argue that. But I do disapprove of people who choose not to carry. Someone please explain why that is wrong? Freedom and responsibility go together. Being defenseless is an encouragement for the state.
http://strike-the-root.com/going-unarmed-is-antisocial-act
Sheepdog? Not I, though I’m shaggy enough. I’m more like my favorite dog, the APBT. Mine have been loyal, friendly to the point of recklessness, and utterly ruthless when someone threatens their home or loved ones.
The sheep, having become sheep by choice (unlike the wooly version), can take care of their damned selves.